Types of Gamblers

The craps table is the world in microcosm. You can learn more about a person in five minutes at a craps table than you can in a two-hour conversation. The next time you play craps, watch your fellow players for a few minutes before you get too involved in the game yourself.

The “compulsive” player places all the numbers and has them working for him on every roll. He might start with “$32 across the board” or “$160 across the board.” When a number hits, he presses the bet. For example, if 5 hits, he wins $7 but bets $5 more on the 5 and takes only $2 profit. If 5 hits gain, he presses up to $15 or $20. If the shooter sevens out. The compulsive player comes right back with an across-the-board bet on the next shooter. The compulsive player must have action on every roll. He makes the wrong bet, place bets give up too high an advantage to the casino, and he over bets, by pressing up too much of his profits.

The “wrong” bettor bets with the house, on the Don’t Pass. He lays the odds that the shooter will not make his point. If the shooter makes two or three passes in a row, the wrong bettor lays off and waits for the next shooter. Oftentimes, the wrong bettor is ignored or shunned by the other players. They don’t like him because he bets against the shooter. But the wrong bettor is a smart player. He is playing near the casino minimum of 0.8% advantage.

The “timid” player puts one chip on the pass line. You know he doesn’t understand the game because he doesn’t make an odds bet. He makes no come bets or any other bets. He patiently waits for the shooter to make his point or miss out. Other players may have won hundreds of dollars on a hot roll, but this doesn’t faze the timid bettor. He happily picks up his single chip if the shooter makes his point.

The “high roller” is just the opposite of the timid player. Many of the high rollers in Las Vegas are Texas oilmen wearing cowboy hats and fancy boots. They play with stacks of $100 chips, betting uncounted handfuls of chips on the pass line and come, and always taking the odds. They are a stickman’s delight, as they love the proposition …